Needle-actuating mechanism for sewing machines



Nov. 26, 1929. c. s. THOMPSON ET AL 1,737,395

NEEDLE ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed April 8. 1927 s Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov 26, 1929.

C. S. THOMPSON ET AL.

NEEDLE ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR SEWING'MACHINES Filed April 8, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov.-26, 1929. c. s. THOMPSON ET AL NEEDLE ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR SEWINGr MACHINES 7 Filed A ril 8. 1927 s Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Nov. 26, 1929 unites stares earner rains CHARLES s. THOMPSON, or PARK RIDGE, AND WILLIAM B. none, on CHICAGO, ILLINOIS,

ASSIGNOES TO UNION SPECIAL MACHINE COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLWQIS, A COR PORATION OF ILLINOIS NEEDLE-ACT'UATING MECHANISM not:v snwrne MACHINES Application filed April 8,

The invention relates to new and useful improvements in sewing machines, and more particularly to the needle actuating mechanism therefor.

An object of the invention is to provide a needle actuating mechanism which includes a lever wherein the longitudinal axis of the actuating lever is in substantially a straight line.

A further object of the invention is to provide a needlebar actuating mechanism of the above type wherein the needle lever is actuated by a reciprocating member connected thereto intermediate its ends; and the needle lever is divided longitudinally for a portion of its length and the divided parts offset so as to permit the actuating member to make connection with the lever at the center line .of the lever.

A further object of the invention is to provide a needle actuating mechanism of the above type wherein the needle lever is disposed so as to oscillate in a plane cutting a vertical plane containing'the axis of the actuating shaft at an acute angle so that the needle bar may be placed in front of the actuating shaft and the presser foot may be placed directly over the actuating shaft, while the actuated end of the needle lever is also directly over the actuating shaft.

These and other objects will in part be obvious and will in part be hereinafter more fully described.

In the drawings which show by way of illustration one embodiment of the invention- Figure 1 is a view partly in front elevation and partly in section showing a portion of a sewing machine embodying the improvements;

Fig. 2 is a front end view of the machine with parts broken away to show the structure in rear thereof;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view through the upper portion of the machine showing the needle actuating lever and its support in top plan view;

Fig. 4. is a vertical sectional view through the frame of the machine and the connection 1927. Serial No. 182,075.

between the needle lever and the member for actuating the same;

Fig. 5 isa perspective view of the needle actuating lever, and i Fig. 6 is a detail in section showing the various parts of the needle lever supporting means, said parts being separated to more clearly show the structure.

The invention is directed broadly to a needle actuating mechanism for sewing machines. The needle is carried by a needle bar which reciprocates and theneedle bar is reciprocated by a needle lever", the longitudinal axis of which lies substantially in a straight line. The needle bar is preferably set well toward the front of the needle head. The main actuating shaft'is disposed with its longitudinal axis in a vertical plane in rear of the line of reciprocationof the needle bar. Thus it is that the presser bar may be so positioned as to be directly above the center of the actuating shaft. The needle lever is mounted at its rear end on a supporting sleeve which oscillates about an axis at right angles to a vertical plane containing the longitudinal. axis of the needle lever. This plane containing the axis of the support for the needle lever is disposed at an acute angle to a vertical plane containing the main shaft. The needle lever is vibrated by a pi'tman which is connected to the needle lever intermediate the ends thereof. The needle lever is divided and the divided portions are slightly offset so to provide a space within the upper end of a hollow standard 5. The hol-' low standard 5is in turn mounted on a hollow base 6. The main actuating shaft 7 extends through the hollow base and is provided with a belt wheel 8.

The needle bar is reciprocated by means of a lever 9 which is connected by a link 10 to a lug 11 carried by the needle bar. The needle lever is mounted at its rear end on a bearing sleeve 12. This bearing sleeve is in turn mounted on cone bearings 13 and 14:. The cone bearing 14 is formed integral with a supporting shaft 15. This shaft 15 is stationary in the machine and the sleeve oscillates on the cone bearings carried by this stationary shaft 15. The bearing 13 as shown in Fig. 6 is a relatively short sleeve section. This sleeve section fits on the stationary shaft 15. A collar 16 is provided with a rib 17 which engages a corresponding groove 18 in the cone bearing 13. This is for preventing the cone bearing 13 from oscillating on the shaft 15, The collar 16 is provided with a groove 19 adapted to receive a screw driver sothat the collar may be adjusted on the shaft 15. This is for the purpose of taking up wear in the parts.

A cylindrical nut 20 is threaded into the outer end of the collar 16, and this nut will bear against the end of the shaft 15 and firmly lock the shaft to the collar 16. This collar 16 is threaded on to the end of the shaft 15. The collar 16 is also exteriorly threaded, and engages a thread on the frame of the machine; A threaded cap nut 21 is adapted to engage the end 22 of the shaft 15. This cap nut seats within a recess 23 in the frame of themachine. A threaded cap nut 24 is adapted to engage the upper threaded surface of the collar 16, and this threaded cap nut 24 7 seats within a recess 25 in the frame of the machine. The cap nuts lock the needle lever assembly in its adjusted positions. This enables the needle lever to be properly aligned within the frame of the machine. The supportfor the'needle lever has two distinct adustments, one is for taking up wear of the parts, and the other is for shifting the support for the needle toward the front or toward the rear of the machine. From the above it will be noted that the needle lever is mounted on cone bearings which are supported by the frame both in front and in rear of the needle lever. This makes a very durable support for the needle lever.

The needle lever is vibrated on its support for reciprocating the needle bar by means of a pitman or eccentric strap 26. This pitman oreccentric strap cooperates with an ecceni of. the. drawings. The upper end of the ectric 27 on the main actuating shaft 7. The needle lever is divided and the divided portions indicated at 28 and 29 are spaced from each other as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4 as the. connecting means for the upper end of the strap. This bolt 32 is provided with a head 33 which seats in a recess in the outer face of the lever and the bolt is held in place by a nut 34. In order to prevent the eccentric strap from oscillating about its longitudinal axis a bracket arm 35 is provided. This bracket arm is clamped to the head at the end of the eccentric strap. The bracket arm has an upwardly projecting portion which is forked at 36. This forked end of the bracket arm engages a block 37 mounted on a stud 38 which is secured to the bolt 32. It Will readily be seen that this bracket arm cannot oscillate about the longitudinal axis of the eccentric strap 26 as its forked end cooperating with the block will prevent such oscil-.

lation. Inasmuch as the bracket arm is se- I cured to the head attached to the eccentric strap it will prevent the eccentric strap and the head at the upper end thereof from oscillating in the opening 30.

The invention is particularly adapted for,

form will thoroughly lubricate the supporting bearings for the needle lever and the actuating connections between the eccentric strap and the needle lever.

The material is moved across the cloth plate for stitching by means of a feed dog 40. A

presser foot ell cooperates with the feed dog 10. This feed dog is carried by a feed bar 42 and the feed bar is raised and lowered at the forward end thereof by an eccentric 43 mounted on the main actuating shaft 7. A presser bar 44 carrying the presser foot 41 is located directly above the shaft 7 This. is

a very desirable arrangement of the presser bar and feed dog for a high speed machine,

The pressure of the spring forcing the presser bar downward and the'presser foot into engagement with the material is directly over the lifting eccentric for the feed which of course raises and lowers the presser bar dur ing the feed cycle. In order that the presser bar may be set directly over the actuating shaft the needle bar 2 must necessarily be placed so as to reciprocate in a vertical line which is well in front of the actuating shaft. It is also desirable that the needle lever shall lie in a vertical plane ccntaining the path of reciprocation of the needle bar. In order to accomplish this the needle lever in the present machine is set so as to vibratein a vertical plane which cuts a vertical plane containing thev longitudinal axis of the main shaft at an acute angle. The axis of the shaft on which the needle lever oscillates is at right angles to this vertical plane containing the oscillations of the needle lever, and of course is at an acute angle to the vertical plane containing the axis of the actuating shaft. The eccentric strap which iorates the needle lever is connected to the needle lever at a point which is directly or vertically above the at-zis of the actuatin shaft. Therefore when the actuating shaft rotates there is'a direct upward and downward thrust of the eccentric strap for vibrating the needle lever without any torsional twistin strain on the support for the needle lever. The needle lever is preferably made hollow and is provided with openings therethrough for the sake of lightness.

It is obvious that minor changes in the details of construction and the arrangement of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a sewing machine the combination of a needle bar carrying a needle, a lever connected to the needle bar at one endthereof, means for pivotally supporting the opposite end of the needle lever, a reciprocating member connected to said lever intermediate the ends thereof, said lever having a portionthereof divided with the divided portions spaced to receive the upper end of said reciprocating member, a ball sleeve located in the space between the divided parts and supported by said lever to which the upper end of the reciprocating member is connected, and means for preventing said reciprocatlng member from oscillating about 1ts longitudinal axis on sald ball sleeve.

2. In a sewing machine the combination of a needle bar carrying a needle, a lever connected at one end to said needle bar, means for pivotally supportin said lever at its opposite end, and means connected to said lever intermediate its ends for vibrating the same on its pivot, said pivot supporting means consisting of a sleeve connected to the lever, cone bearings engaging said sleeve at the opposite ends thereof, and means for supporting said cone bearings whereby said bearings may be adjusted toward and from each other and whereby said bearings may be bodily shifted in a direction at right angles to the plane of vibration of the lever.

3. In a sewing machine the combination of a hollow frame, a needle bar carrying a needle mounted to reciprocate in the frame, a lever located within said hollow frame and connected to said needle bar at one end thereof, means located within the hollow frame for pivotally supporting said lever at the opposite end, and means connected to the lever intermediate its ends for vibrating the same i on itspivot support, said pivot support consisting of a sleeve connected to the lever, cone bearings engaging the opposite ends of said sleeve, and means supported at both ends by said frame for carrying said cone bearings, means whereby said cone bearings may be adjusted toward and from each other, and means whereby said cone bearings may be adjusted bodily at right angles to the plane of vibration of the needle lever.

4. In a sewing machine the combination of a hollow frame, a needle bar carrying a needle mounted to reciprocate in the frame, a lever located within'said hollow frame and connected to said needle bar at one end thereof, means located within the hollow frame for pivotally supporting said lever at the opposite end, and means connected to the lever intermediate its ends for'vibrating the same on its pivot support, said pivot supporting means consisting of a sleeve attached to the lover, a stationary shaft passing through said sleeve and supported at its opposite endsin said frame, said stationary shaft having a cone 'bearingformed integral therewith for engaging one end of the sleeve, a cone hearing adjustable on the shaft for engaging the other end of the sleeve, and means for supporting said shaft and cone bearings in said frame whereby the shaft may be adjusted enclwise in the frame. I l

5. In a sewing machine the combination of a hollow frame, a needle bar carrying a needle mounted to reciprocate in the frame, a lever located within said hollow frame and con nected to said needle bar at one end thereof,

means located within the hollow frame for pivotally supporting said lever at the opposite end, and means connected to the lever intermediate its ends for vibrating the same on its pivot support, said means for pivotally lOO shaft having a cone bearing engaging one end of the sleeve, a cone bearing free to move end wise on the shaft engaging the other end of the sleeve, a collar threaded on the shaft 11113 ing a rib and groove connection with the last named cone bearing for adjusting the cone bearings relative to each other.

6. In a sewing machine the combination of a hollow frame, a needle bar carryinga needle mounted to reciprocate in the frame, a lever located within said hollow frame and connected to said needle bar at one end thereof, means located within the hollow frame for pivotally supporting said lever at the opposite end, and means connected to the lever intermediate its ends for vibrating the same on its pivot support, said means for pivotally supporting the lever consisting of a sleeve fixed to the lever, a stationary shaft extendan actuating shaft, aneedle bar mounted ing througlrsaidv sleeve. and supported at its opposite ends in said frame, said stationary shaft having a cone bearing engaging one end of thesleeve, a cone bearing free to move endwise on the shaft engaging the other end of the sleeve, a collar threaded on the shaft having a rib and groove connectionwith the last named cone bearing for adjusting the cone bearings relative to each other, a cap nut secured to said shaft and adapted to bear against the outer face of the frame, a cap nut secured to said threaded collar and adanted to bear against the other face of the tine whereby when said cap nuts are adj usted the shaft may be moved endwise in the frame.

7. In a sewin machine the combination of an actuating shaft, a needle bar mounted for vertical reciprocation in a line in front of the actuating shaft, a needle lever connected to the needle bar and Vibrating in a plane containing the axis of the needle bar, means for pivotally supporting the opposite end of the needle lever, an eccentric member on the actuating shaft directly beneath theneedle le- Ver, a member reciprocated thereby and connected-to the needle lever at the central plane thereof for vibrating the same, said needle lever having its longitudinal axis in agsubstantially straight line. 7

8. In a sewing machine the combination of for vertical reciprocation in a line .in front of the actuating shaft, a needle lever connected to the needle bar and vibrating in a plane containing the axis of the needle bar, means for pivotally supporting the opposite end of the needle lever, an eccentric member on the actuating shaft directly beneath the needle lever, a member reciprocated thereby and connected centrally of the needle lever for vibrating the same, said needle lever having its longitudinal axis-in a substantially straight line, said needle lever being disposed so as to vibrate in a vertical plane cutting a vertical plane containing the axis of the ac tuating shaft at an acute angle.

'9. In a sewing machine the combination of a work support, a standard, an overhanging arm, a feeding mechanism, a main actuating shaft located beneath'the work support and at right angles to the line of feed, a needle bar mounted for reciprocation at the outer end of said overhanging arm and disposed in a line in front of said shaft, a needle lever extending lengthwise of said overhanging hollow overhanging arm carried thereby, a

. In testimony whereof,

feeding mechanism, a main actuating shaft.

located beneath the work support andexlever located in said hollow overhanging arm and disposed in a plane containing the needle bar and intersecting a vertical plane containing the axis of said shaft at an acute angle, means for pivotally supporting said lever, means for reciprocating said needle clever from said main actuating shaft, said reciprocating means being disposed in said hollow standard and substantially at the line of intersection between said planes.

we afii'x our signatures.

CHARLES S. THOMPSON. WVILLIAM B. LONG. 

